The Old Rugged Cross

My father-in-law loves this hymn. My wife loves this hymn. I love this hymn. There is something that stirs within my soul when I sing of the cross. When I think about the price paid for the redemption of my soul, I'm moved to many emotions. I believe we don't sing enough of the cross in church. We don't sing enough of the blood shed by our Redeemer. We don't sing enough of the perfect atonement made for our sins. We, guilty sinners, have been made whole through the cross... what else would we want to sing about?

I find sometimes we sing and get consumed with things of this world that cannot bring us to God. We sing of love; but do we know of His love? We sing of joy; but do we have His joy? We sing of our needs; but are we satisified in Him? I want to cling to the cross for I know threw it, I was made righteous in the sight of the Holy Father through the death of His Holy Son.

Paul writes, "But may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world!" Can we write that with the same genuine passion that Paul carried with him throughout his life? I love this verse. The word boast, kauchaomai (kow-khah'-om-ahee) has the idea to vaunt (in a good or a bad sense) -- (make) boast, glory, joy, rejoice. What do we do this in? With? I see in the south, much boasting in college football. Can this boasting produce the fellowship we need with the Father? I see many students boasting in their own selfish bubbles (facebook, myspace, texting, cheerleading, band, various sports, school clubs, etc.) Can this boasting produce within them the everlasting joy that we receive in Galatians 5:22? I hope you will join me in never boasting about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus. May we join Augustus M. Toplady when he wrote, "Nothing in my hand I bring,Simply to Thy cross I cling;Naked, come to Thee for dress;Helpless, look to Thee for grace;Foul, I to the fountain fly;Wash me, Savior, or I die."

Join me as I cherish the old rugged cross. Take time today and praise the Father for the grace that He displayed on the cross of His Son! May we boast in nothing more.

The Old Rugged Cross by George Bennard

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,The emblem of suffering and shame;And I love that old cross where the dearest and best For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,Till my trophies at last I lay down;I will cling to the old rugged cross,And exchange it some day for a crown. (chorus)

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,Has a wondrous attraction for me;For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above To bear it to dark Calvary.

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,A wondrous beauty I see,For 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,To pardon and sanctify me.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;Its shame and reproach gladly bear;Then He'll call me some day to my home far away,Where His glory forever I'll share.